A 36-year-old member asked:
What is one way to treat an adrenal insufficiency?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Philip Kernanswered
Endocrinology 43 years experience
Steroids: If your adrenals have failed (called addison's disease) you need to be on adrenal replacement. This is usually hydrocortisone, maybe with Fludrocortisone too. Be careful, however. There are people treating "adrenal fatigue" with inadequate testing when in fact there is nothing wrong with the adrenals. One cannot rely on symptoms alone. An acth (cortrosyn) stim test is usually done for diagnosis.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Ed Friedlander commented
Pathology 44 years experience
Dr. Kern is right. "Adrenal insufficiency" is a pop fad diagnosis that is given to people who have been abused, are sad, or are having trouble with living situations / living skills. It keeps them coming back instead of getting real life-help that they need. Real adrenal insufficiency / Addison's is rare but is fatal if missed. I hope you have an accurate diagnosis.
Dec 26, 2012
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Similar questions
A 40-year-old member asked:
What is the most common way to treat adrenal insufficiency?
3 doctor answers • 10 doctors weighed in
Dr. Giuseppe Barbesinoanswered
Internal Medicine 33 years experience
Adrenal hormones: Adrenal hormones of two types are usually used:
1) glucorticoids such as hydrocortisone, prednisone, dexamethasone: these regulate blood pressure, glucose levels, the immune system among other things
2) mineralocorticoids such as florinef: they regulate salt balance and blood pressure.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 52-year-old member asked:
How do you treat adrenal insufficiency?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Quang Nguyenanswered
Specializes in Endocrinology
Meds: It depends on where the problem is. If the adrenal insufficiency is caused by a pituitary dysfunction, then the treatment is steroid (hydrocortisone, prednisone...) if the problem is at the adrenals, then you will need both steroids and a mineralcorticoid (florinef).
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Last updated Jun 25, 2014
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